Deane v. Navy Federal Credit Union

Filing
55

ORDER granting 53 MOTION for Sanctions by Navy Federal Credit Union. This case will be closed for failure to prosecute, with leave to reopen after plaintiff has made full payment to defendant for the awarded sanctions. Signed by Judge Warren W. Eginton on 7/22/13. (Ladd-Smith, I.)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT
JOHN D. DEANE,
Plaintiff,
V.
NAVY FEDERAL CREDIT UNION,
Defendant.
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CIV. NO. 3:12CV917(WWE)
RULING ON DEFENDANT’S MOTION FOR SANCTIONS [DOC. #53]
Pending before the Court is defendant’s motion for sanctions [doc.
#53] against plaintiff for failing to appear at the settlement
conference. A settlement conference was set for May 21, 2013 in
this case. Prior to the settlement conference, the Court issued a
reminder of the settlement conference and ordered the parties to
“contact the Court as soon as possible, if you believe a
settlement conference would not be productive as scheduled.”
[doc. #49]. Plaintiff did not appear on the day of the settlement
conference. Defendant’s counsel and representative appeared as
ordered. Notably, defendant’s representative, Kenneth Emmer,
traveled from Virginia to Connecticut to attend the settlement
conference.
This Court has authority to enter sanctions, among other
things, if a party or its attorney “fails to appear at a
scheduling or other pretrial conference” and “fails to obey a
scheduling or other pretrial order.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 16(f)(1)(A),
(C). The rule contemplates that the Court will “order the party,
its attorney, or both to pay the reasonable expenses-including
attorney’s fees-incurred because of any noncompliance with this
rule, unless the noncompliance was substantially justified or
other circumstances make an award of expenses unjust.” Fed. R.
Civ. P. 16(f)(2).
Here, defendant seeks an award of monetary sanctions in the
amount of $2,956.29 for fees and costs incurred in preparing for
and attending the settlement conference. Defendant’s counsel
incurred $2,320.50 in attorney’s fees preparing for and attending
the settlement conference. Broken down, defendant’s counsel spent
11.9 hours billed at $195 an hour. Defendant’s representative
incurred expenses in the amount of $569.74 traveling to
Connecticut. In support of these expenses, defendant has
submitted documents, including a bill from a hotel, a travel
expense authorization form, and toll and gas receipts.
Having reviewed the motion and supporting evidence, the
Court finds that the entry of sanctions is entirely appropriate
and that the amount sought is reasonable. The Court awards
defendant $2,956.29. This case will be closed for failure to
prosecute, with leave to reopen after plaintiff has made full
payment to defendant for the awarded sanctions.
ENTERED at Bridgeport, this 22nd day of July, 2013.
/s/
WARREN W. EGINTON
SENIOR UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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